Player profile

Rab Howell

Birthdate: 12 October 1867
Birthplace: Sheffield, England
Other clubs: Ecclesfield, Rotherham Swifts (1888-90), Sheffield United (1890-98), Preston North End (1901-03)
Bought from: Sheffield United
Signed for LFC: £200, 06.04.1898
International debut: 09.03.1895 vs. Ireland
International caps: 2/1 (1/0 at LFC) - 08.04.1899
 Liverpool debut: 16.04.1898
Last appearance: 01.01.1901
Contract expiry: June 1901
Win ratio: 43.28% W: 29 D: 12 L: 26
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 3 / 0
LFC league games/goals: 59 / 0
Total LFC games/goals: 67 / 0

Player profile

The first gypsy to play for Liverpool and represent England. Rabbi "Rab" Howell was born in a Romany caravan in Wincobank, Sheffield. The 5ft. 5ins. (165cm.) half-back made his debut for Liverpool in their final first division fixture of the 1897/98 season. He arrived after featuring in 24 out of Sheffield United's 30 League games who had finished their League programme as champions before Howell's departure after being runners-up the previous year. Howell missed only four League games in his full debut season as the Reds finished second to champions Aston Villa. He was also a first-team regular for most of the last season of the nineteenth century but played just twice more for the first team after that, midway through the 1900/01 championship season, not surprising given he was 33 years of age. He was so described by his Sheffield United team-mate Ernest Needham: "A gypsy by birth, perhaps owes some of his inexhaustible vitality to his lucky parentage. Certain it is that no man is more untiring. In his right-hand position this light-weight player always excels. He rejoices at meeting the best of forward wings, and should the outside man indulge in dribbling he sticks to him like a leech. Many duels have I seen between him and Spiksley [of Sheffield Wednesday], and generally Howell has come off best. Unfortunately he is a little too fond of keeping the ball too long, and loses many opportunities."

Howell made his England debut as a Sheffield United player scoring in a 9-0 win over Ireland on 9 March 1895, but had to wait four years for his second and final international against Scotland, then on Liverpool's books. Liverpool played in a benefit for Howell against Preston North End on 30 September 1904. He had retired a year earlier after breaking his leg, playing at Preston.

Appearances per season

SeasonLeagueFALCEuropeOtherTotal
Totals59800067
1897-1898 100001
1898-1899 30600036
1899-1900 26200028
1900-1901 200002

A more detailed look at the player's appearances

TotalOpponent
7Sheffield United
6Stoke City
5Blackburn Rovers
5WBA
4Burnley
4Everton
4Sunderland
4Aston Villa
3Newcastle United
3Bury
3Preston North End
3Nottingham Forest
3Derby
3Wolves
3Notts County
2Bolton Wanderers
2Sheffield Wednesday
2Manchester City
1Glossop North End
TotalCompetition
59League
8FA Cup

Goals per season

SeasonLeagueFALCEuropeOtherTotal
Totals000000
1897-1898 000000
1898-1899 000000
1899-1900 000000
1900-1901 000000

A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring

TotalTeam
No records to display.
TotalCompetition
No records to display.
TotalGoal minute period
01-15
016-30
031-45
046-60
061-75
076-90
091-120
TotalOpen play/Penalty
0Open play
0Penalty

Wartime Appearances / Goals

SeasonAppearancesGoals
No records to display.

Stats note

Milestone Appearances

#DateAgainstStadiumCompetition
116.04.1898Aston VillaAnfieldLeague
5018.11.1899Aston VillaAnfieldLeague

Milestone Goals

#MinuteDateAgainstStadiumCompetition
No records to display.

Related Articles

Related Quotes

The player was in the squad the following season

SeasonShirt #Position
1897-1898 * Defender
1898-1899 * Defender
1899-1900 * Defender
1900-1901 * Defender
* Note, Since the 1993-94 season players have been allocated a fixed number.

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